Snape referring to LV as "The Dark Lord"

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 85583

syndicateblue asked:

> I believe in Book 5, during one of the occlumancy lessons, in his 
> anger Harry finally confronts Snape about him referring to LV 
> as "The Dark Lord."  He asks him why Snape still refers to LV 
> as "The Dark Lord," since the only people that ever call him that 
> are Death Eaters.  Right when Snape is about to answer, they hear a 
> sudden crashing and screaming upstairs (I think the firing of 
> Trelawney) and Snape runs off, leaving Harry with the Pensieve.  
> Could the answer that Snape was about to give have any significance 
> to the plot?

Sera replied:

> But if you don't think Trelawney is a DE, how can you say that only
> DEs call him the "Dark Lord"? She does.

and Hickengruendler commented:

> But Trelawney was possesed. It might not be herself, who spoke the
> predictions. However, I don't know why Harry thinks, that only DE
> call him "The Dark Lord". Fudge called him so, and as far as we (and
> Harry) know, he isn't a Death Eater. Even Ernie MacMillan said "Dark
> Lord".

Several characters have used the term once or twice, but only Death 
Eaters seem to use it exclusively.  It seems to be the name that 
Voldemort prefers his followers to use.  I agree that we can't rely 
on Trelawny as evidence, since it seems that Seers are speaking from 
a neutral perspective when prophesizing.

As for Snape's use of "the Dark Lord", I don't believe it indicates 
any support of Voldemort, at least not currently.  I believe he does 
it for three reasons.  First, habit.  He would naturally have 
referred to Voldemort with this term while a Death Eater.  Dumbledore 
is big on emphasizing that one must not be afraid of a name, so Snape 
really doesn't have any motivation to change his habits.  

Second, safety.  He is still playing the part of Loyal Death Eater a 
few days a week.  If he were to start calling Voldemort by one of his 
other nicknames, or even worse by the name Voldemort, it would 
increase the chance that he might slip up while in the presence of 
DEs or Voldemort himself.  Better to avoid that hazard.

Finally, it's not in Snape's character to admit openly that he was 
wrong.  I think changing to more acceptable Voldemort references 
would be like admitting he had made a horrible mistake by following 
Voldemort in the first place, and that he was now willing to follow 
the better judgement of others.  Of course, he does feel this way 
(assuming for the moment that he isn't still a DE; leave that debate 
for another day), but he is not about to admit it to the world.

So overall, I believe Snape's interrupted answer was simply a way to 
keep his true character a secret for a little longer.

-Corinth